Coronavirus Closes The Met

The Metropolitan Museum of Art announced that it will close its doors today and remain closed for an indeterminate period.

"We have been closely following recent developments related to the coronavirus and have concluded at this time that it is in the best interest of our staff and volunteers, and public health, to close all three Museum locations to the public at the end of business today, Thursday, March 12," president Daniel H. Weiss and director Max Hollein said in an email to staff. "In order to give staff enough time to prepare to work from home, we will close the Museum to staff by noon on Friday, March 13, and will stay closed until further notice. In the next few days, we will undertake a thorough cleaning of the Museum and will monitor the developments of this rapidly-changing global health situation. Our plan is to announce next steps early next week."

The email continued: "We recognize fully the significant consequences of this decision for our staff, volunteers, visitors, and the wider community. Yet we also recognize that for the long-term wellbeing of the Museum community we must do all that we can to ensure a safe and healthy environment, which at this time calls for us to minimize community interaction while maintaining the cleanest environment possible."